Redtail Rise gauze

They shook their head, offering an apologetic look as they admitted, I don’t know. I’ve never given it much thought. It’s never mattered to me. It’s okay if it matters to you, though. I’m not sure what answers mother might be able to give you, though if anyone can satisfy your curiosity, it would be her.

Whether Avicus knew herself—or wanted to discuss such matters with her son—Masque couldn’t say. At worst, she wouldn’t be able to give Mulherin the answers he wanted. Surely no harm would come of asking the question in the first place.

Since we’re on the subject, they said a moment later, we’ve talked about your aspirations for rank before. But what do you think about a family, one day? Do you think you’d like to take a mate, become a father?

Like everything else, it was a long ways off. But what kind of sitter—and sibling—would they be if Masquerade didn’t ask him about his hopes and dreams? Unlike Masque, Mulherin had a lot of potential and prospects. They could and did see him as the head of a pack and family someday.